East Cambridgeshire

East Cambridgeshire's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 84,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of East Cambridgeshire increased by 14%, from about 73,200 to 83,800.

The addition of just under 11,000 people means this area's population was the third-fastest-growing in Eastof England and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, East Cambridgeshire was home to, on average, 0.92 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older East Cambridgeshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of East Cambridgeshire increased by one year, from 39 to 40 years.

This rural area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 2,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years.

About 16% of people in East Cambridgeshire are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and East Cambridgeshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work life

East Cambridgeshire saw Eastof England's largest rise in the proportion of employed people.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (59%) people aged 16 to 74 in East Cambridgeshire said they were employed, compared with 58% in 2001. The percentage that were unemployed increased from 2.2% to 2.9%.

Across the region, Ipswich saw the next largest increase in the proportion of employed people (from 57% in 2001 to 58% in 2011).

During this period, East Cambridgeshire overtook seven local authority areas, including North Hertfordshire and Thurrock, to become the Eastof England local authority area with the sixth-highest percentage of employed people.

The rate of employment was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in East Cambridgeshire

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 31% said they had no religion. An increase from 17% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in East Cambridgeshire.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18% to 30%, while across England the percentage went from 16% to 27%.

Around 68% of those who disclosed their religion in East Cambridgeshire said they were Christian, down from 82% in 2001. About 0.2% said they were Sikh, up from 0.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation fell from 9.5% to 8.6% between the last two censuses.

In East Cambridgeshire, 8.6% chose not to disclose their religious affiliation. In East the percentage was 7.9% and across England the percentage was 7.8%.

The population without a religion in East Cambridgeshire increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and East Cambridgeshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in East Cambridgeshire

The percentage of East Cambridgeshire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.2% to 6.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage of East Cambridgeshire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 6.9% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in East Cambridgeshire, but at a slower rate than across England.

In East Cambridgeshire, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.0% in 2001 to 13% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in East Cambridgeshire remained close to 14%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 73% to 69%.

Private renting in East Cambridgeshire increased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in East Cambridgeshire, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in East Cambridgeshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 17% to 12% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in East Cambridgeshire decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in East Cambridgeshire, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in East Cambridgeshire

The percentage of adults in East Cambridgeshire that were married decreased from 59% to 55% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 24% in 2001. The percentage of adults in East Cambridgeshire that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The proportion of married people fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 54% in 2001 to 50% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 51% to 47%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of East Cambridgeshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.1% to 4.0% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of East Cambridgeshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in East Cambridgeshire decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in East Cambridgeshire, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in East Cambridgeshire

In 2011, 96% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 98% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in East Cambridgeshire.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of residents from the White ethnic groups fell from 95% to 90%, while across England the percentage went from 91% to 85%.

Around 1.5% of people in East Cambridgeshire said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 0.9% in 2001. About 1.4% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from 0.7% 10 years prior.

The percentage of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups rose from 0.3% to 0.6% between the last two censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in East Cambridgeshire decreased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and East Cambridgeshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of one-person households increased in East Cambridgeshire, while falling in Cambridge (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with East Cambridgeshire).

In East Cambridgeshire, the proportion went up from 24% in 2001 to 26% in 2011, while across England it fell from 36% to 34%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 28%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in East Cambridgeshire increased from 10% to 12%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 44% to 41%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of East Cambridgeshire residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.6% to 2.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.8%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.8% in 2001 to 2.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in East Cambridgeshire remained close to 2.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and East Cambridgeshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in East Cambridgeshire with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 9.0% to 8.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 29% in 2001. While the percentage of households in East Cambridgeshire without children decreased from 62% to 61%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links